South Carolina Representative Nancy Mace recently took to Twitter to encourage high school students in the state’s first congressional district to submit their artwork for the annual Congressional Art Competition. The competition, which has been held since 1982, allows members of Congress to recognize and celebrate the artistic talents of their constituents.
The competition is open to all high school students living in the district, regardless of whether they attend public or private schools or are homeschooled. Submissions can be in any medium, including paintings, drawings, photographs, and mixed media works. Students who win at the district level will have their artwork displayed for a year in the U.S. Capitol Building along with other winning pieces from around the country.
Mace tweeted a link to more information about how to submit artwork for consideration by May 8th deadline. She also shared an image featuring several previous winning artworks on her social media account as an inspiration for potential entries.
The Congressional Art Competition was established by former Congressman Jim Wright of Texas as a way to promote arts education and recognize young artists across America. Since its inception nearly 40 years ago, hundreds of thousands of high school students have participated in this program nationwide.
In South Carolina’s first congressional district alone, dozens of talented young artists have taken part over the years – some even going on to pursue careers in art after graduation from high school. Last year’s winner was Charleston County School of Arts student Emily Graham whose work featured colorful depictions of Lowcountry landscapes and landmarks made entirely out paint chips cut into small squares forming a mosaic-like design
Mace’s announcement is just one example that highlights how elected officials continue promoting access and opportunities within different areas like arts education despite challenges posed by COVID-19 pandemic restrictions which has led many schools shut down temporarily.
Aspiring young artists looking for guidance or inspiration should check out Rep. Mace’s tweet linking resources about submitting their own entries before May 8th deadline. The competition provides a platform for these students to showcase their skills in the arts and potentially gain recognition on a national level.